About Us
The PM4NGOs El Salvador Hub is a collaborative community that brings together professionals, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and companies committed to excellence in project management for development. As part of the global PM4NGOs network, our Hub promotes the DPro methodologies; Project DPro, Program DPro, MEAL DPro, and Finance DPro, facilitating access to tools, knowledge, and exchange spaces that strengthen local capacities. We act as a bridge between actors in the social, academic, and business sectors, fostering ethics, inclusion, and continuous improvement in professional practice, with the objective of generating a positive and sustainable impact in El Salvador.
Mission
To promote professional and ethical development in project, program, finance, and MEAL management in El Salvador by strengthening local capacities through DPro methodologies, fostering collaboration among individuals, organizations, and sectors, and contributing to positive impact within Salvadoran communities.
VisionÂ
To be the national benchmark for education, innovation, and best practices in project management for development, articulating a diverse and inclusive network of professionals and organizations committed to excellence, equity, and the strengthening of the social sector in El Salvador.
El Salvador Facts & Figures
Strategic Pillars of WorkÂ
Professional Development and Continuous Training
To promote the strengthening of technical and professional capacities of Hub members through training programs, workshops, certifications, and educational activities aligned with international PM4NGOs standards.
Services, Consultancy, and Sector Engagement
To offer technical services, advisory, and specialized accompaniment that respond to the needs of projects and organizations.
Ethics, Integrity, and Sector Professionalization
 To foster ethical practice, integrity, and continuous improvement in the professional exercise of project management.
Community and Collaborative Networks
To consolidate spaces for encounter and collaboration among professionals, organizations, and key actors in the project management ecosystem through meetings, symposia, conferences, and working networks.
Knowledge Generation and Dissemination
To contribute to the development, documentation, and dissemination of knowledge regarding project, program, and portfolio management.
Promotion and Visibility of Project Management
To drive public recognition of project management as essential for sustainable development.
ContextÂ
In El Salvador, capacity building in project management for development is an urgent necessity in light of the social, economic, and environmental challenges facing the country. The lack of standardization in methodologies, the scarce articulation between sector actors, and the limited supply of specialized training hinder the effective implementation of initiatives that generate a sustainable impact.
As a precedent, the Social Innovation Clinic (CINSUES), established by the Faculty of Jurisprudence and Social Sciences of the University of El Salvador, was one of the first successful pilots to adapt DPro methodologies, including Project DPro and MEAL DPro to local contexts. CINSUES trained students and professionals, demonstrating that these methodologies can be effectively adjusted to the Salvadoran context, laying the foundations for the professionalization of project management with a social focus in the country.
The PM4NGOs El Salvador Hub adopts these lessons learned and integrates them into its approach, ensuring that all its initiatives and training remain aligned with local needs and realities, promoting professionalization, ethics, and continuous improvement in project management through internationally recognized DPro methodologies.
The Hub facilitates cooperation among local and international organizations, academic institutions, companies, and professionals, creating an ecosystem of learning, exchange, and collaboration that contributes to the country’s development. This initiative represents a key opportunity for strategic allies wishing to invest in institutional strengthening, social innovation, and community impact.
PM4NGOs El Salvador Hub Working MethodologyÂ
- Engagement and AffiliationÂ
- Induction and WelcomeÂ
- Active ParticipationÂ
- Training and DevelopmentÂ
- Cooperation and AlliancesÂ
- Evaluation and Continuous ImprovementÂ
Hub Members
Carlos Alberto Peña Menjivar
Carlos holds advanced degrees in International Relations and Diplomacy and is currently pursuing postgraduate studies in conflict resolution. He possesses extensive experience in development cooperation and has served as a faculty member at a major university, coordinating courses on project design and international cooperation. Currently, he operates as a consultant in the public and private sectors and serves as a director of international relations for a national government ministry.
Carlos has conducted significant research on diplomacy and international politics, with publications in several academic journals. His professional track record includes coordinating the ratification of international conventions, negotiating bilateral agreements, and representing his country at high-level global labor conferences in Switzerland. He also serves as a focal point for regional agreements and council meetings regarding labor and social welfare.
Fernando Hernández Palma
Fernando is an International Relations professional with experience in strategic planning and international cooperation within multilateral organizations, private foundations, and public institutions. His work focuses on the design, implementation, and monitoring of social projects, as well as institutional capacity building. He currently serves as an Administrative and Strategic Planning Manager for a social development organization, where he leads financial administration and program coordination.
Fernando previously worked with a global intergovernmental agency in case management, supporting logistical coordination and stakeholder liaisons. Earlier in his career, he contributed to the international cooperation office of a national ministry, strengthening his skills in project analysis and reporting. He holds complementary training in fundraising and comprehensive project management, equipping him to manage initiatives with an integrated, results-oriented, and strategic approach.
Halel Yejudith TobÃas Figueroa
Halel holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and a Master’s degree in Social Project Management. Her academic and professional background is focused on strengthening social project management, fieldwork, and operational logistics within complex environments. Currently, she serves as a Travel and Events Specialist for a leading judicial support organization, where she manages logistical operations and delivers adaptive, client-focused solutions.
Halel has contributed to research and data collection for various international NGOs and development foundations, expanding her expertise in analysis and technical reporting. Her experience includes systematizing data for democratic promotion initiatives and participating in international electoral observation missions. She holds globally recognized certifications in project management and MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning), underpinning her ability to lead projects with a strategic, results-oriented approach.
Ivonne RodrÃguez
Ivonne is an International Relations professional with over five years of experience specializing in development programs across the non-profit sector. She currently works in resource mobilization, managing grants and overseeing programmatic implementation with a strong focus on the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) cycle. She possesses extensive experience in feasibility analysis, proposal formulation, and defining scopes for evidence collection to drive organizational learning.
Additionally, Ivonne has a strong background as an independent consultant, where she has designed methodological tools, processed data, and provided technical assistance in research and project evaluation. Her work emphasizes strategic partnerships, human rights, gender equality, and sustainable development, often involving inter-institutional coordination. She holds multiple international certifications in project and financial management, ensuring high-quality oversight of the full development project cycle.
Lisandro Pérez-Hernández
El Salvador
Lisandro Pérez-Hernández
Lisandro is Chair Professor of International Relations and Coordinator of Master in Social Project Management at University of El Salvador, his research focuses on development aid dynamics in global sustainability governance and SDGs localisation. He has over 15 years of experience as independent evaluator and development practitioner in Central America and Spain with exposures to work for several development agencies as USAID, U.S. Department of State (DOS), Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), LuxDevelopment, UNICEF, IDB and EU. Similarly, he has collaborated with several international NGOs such as WorldVision (WV), Spanish Red Cross, Brücke Le pont (Switzerland), Cordaid (Netherlands) and Brot für die Welt (Germany). Moreover, since 2014, Lisandro is the country representative to El Salvador office of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC); an U.S. private, non-profit organization that seek to expand access to justice and improve quality of services through technical assistance, training, and technology.
He holds a PhD in International Development of University Jaume I and a MA in International Cooperation and Management of NGOs of University of Santiago de Compostela. Besides, Lisandro holds a MSc in Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility and BA in International Relations. Lisandro is passionate about using scientific evidence and creativity to design social development programs.
In addition, Dr. Perez is Certified Educator for Microsoft (MCE) and Google Certified Educator (GCE1), he has the Project Management for Development Professionals Certification (Project Dpro Foundation & Practitioner) and the Professional Certification in Public Management for Development (IDB).
RocÃo Abigail Parada GarcÃa
RocÃo is an International Relations specialist focused on project planning, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEAL). She has led and supported initiatives regarding youth, education, migration, and community development in collaboration with major international humanitarian agencies and cooperation organizations. Her experience includes leading operational planning, monitoring activity implementation, and strengthening information quality for strategic decision-making.
RocÃo has participated in high-impact projects aimed at protecting vulnerable populations, ensuring strict accountability to donors and partners. Her technical skills include database design, information systematization, and indicator development, utilizing advanced digital tools for statistical analysis and visualization. She holds certifications in project management and community resilience and is characterized by an analytical mindset and the ability to build strategic partnerships in multicultural environments.
Silvia Berenice Rivera López
Berenice possesses over ten years of experience in International Cooperation and Development, specializing in humanitarian response and development projects. Her expertise spans the entire project lifecycle, including identification, planning, implementation, and closure. She has demonstrated skill in program design, negotiation, and alliance management, facilitating dialogue among diverse public and private actors to support participatory initiatives.
Her work focuses on promoting social development and human rights through collaborative frameworks. Berenice’s professional profile is defined by strategic leadership, robust project management skills, and the capacity to coordinate multi-stakeholder efforts that contribute to impactful and sustainable development outcomes.
